10 Movies That Spent Decades In Development Hell (And Still Lived Up To The Hype)

1982's Blade Runner may be viewed as a slow-moving slog by some, but it's hard to deny its impact on the science-fiction genre. The sheer immersion presented in its future landscape is an achievement many of its competitors can only dream of matching.

This is partly what made it so difficult to create a sequel. From 1990 onwards, the issue of acquiring the franchise's license persisted. This was eventually purchased by Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson of Alcon Entertainment. Initially, Christopher Nolan was tipped to direct the new film alongside Ridley Scott, but the latter would settle into a producing credit instead.

After years of delays, Denis Villeneuve finally created a rousing sequel to the 1982 cult classic. At first the Canadian director, a huge fan of the original, was unsure about whether he would dishonour it, but took many steps to ensure an authentic sequel. The result shows in the film film, which continues the story and delivers phenomenal visuals from start to finish.

Unfortunately, the film's enourmous critical success did not carry through into box office returns. Its heavily philosophical themes and slow pace led to diminished returns among general audiences. While it did make back its budget, 2049 was considered somewhat of a flop in the eyes of the studio.